Sunday, August 5, 2012

Resisting the Bait

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NASB)

Successful fishing requires patience and the right kind of bait. Two fish came up to my disguised bait. One sniffed at it and swam away, but the other grabbed it and tried to swim away. I yanked on the pole and yelled, "I got you this time."

My fishing experience reminds me of temptation in a believer's life. Satan lures Christians into sin by baiting his hooks with curiosity, pride, passion, and lust. He dangled the bait of curiosity before Peter as he stood among the soldiers around the fire. Instead of leaving the scene, Peter exploded in falsehood and cursing.

In Joseph's case, Satan used the bait of sexual passion to try and lure him into sin, but Joseph refused to take the bait. Instead he ran from the presence of sin.

What should we do when Satan dangles his bait in front of us? It looks so enticing and innocent, but the results of taking the bait are broken homes, failed marriages, scarred children, lost faith, and misplaced trust. How can we guard against the temptations he places before us? We can follow the Biblical principles outlined in 1 Peter 5:9; "Resist the devil and he will flee from you," and 2 Timothy 2:22; "Flee youthful lusts..."